Super Special Happy Place (installation view) 2011

Tony Feher made this installation, titled Super Special Happy Place, by planting trees. What strikes me is the way that Feher has carefully considered colour in what might appear to be a purely natural scene. The contrast between the pinks and greens here is really vibrant. It makes me think about the emotional impact of colour combinations. There are so many slight variations in tone, from the almost white blossoms to the darker pinks, set against the flat green of the lawn. It makes the field feel almost like a huge canvas. There's something very intentional about the arrangement of the trees, it reminds me of the way Agnes Martin would use a grid to structure her paintings. I guess this piece shows how art is about seeing the world around us. Instead of a brush, Feher uses trees, space, and light as his materials. It invites us to rethink how we understand the natural world.